Biological soil health parameters increase as a consequence of land management change from conventionalized organic production to market gardening

L.P. Biundo, A.K. Rosberg
Market gardening is a low-tech, small-scale production system with an emphasis on diversity, ecological balance and community engagement. The basis of market gardening is a combination of agroecological principles and organic production. Through the employment of management practices that minimize soil disruption, and promote the use of composts, cover crops, and mulches to increase soil organic matter content, this type of production system is suggested to lead to long-term sustainability. In the current project, a newly established market gardening system was compared to conventionalized organic field production, and a field border, over one year in which soil samples were collected at four time points. With a focus on biological soil health indicators, analyses were made on soil organic matter, soil protein content, soil respiration, microbial activity, active carbon, and nutrient availability. The results showed significant enhancements in soil health parameters in the market gardening system compared to conventionalized organic production, as well as to the field fence line. This study thus underscores the potential of market gardening as a production system with a high potential to improve soil health and increase sustainability in food production.
Biundo, L.P. and Rosberg, A.K. (2025). Biological soil health parameters increase as a consequence of land management change from conventionalized organic production to market gardening. Acta Hortic. 1416, 331-336
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.43
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.43
soil health, organic vegetable production, market garden, soil organic matter
English

Acta Horticulturae